Botulism Disease

• Botulism

Toxins produced by a group of bacteria known as Clostridium botulinum cause the disease known as botulism. This eMedTV page provides details about this rare but serious illness, including how it is acquired, symptoms, and treatment options.

• Botulism Types

There are three main botulism types: foodborne botulism, wound botulism, and infant botulism. This portion of the eMedTV archives describes these botulism types in detail and also provides information about what is known as "bioterror botulism."

• Botulism Food Poisoning

A common source of botulism food poisoning is improperly preserved home-processed foods with low acid content (like corn and beets). This eMedTV page offers tips for preventing botulism food poisoning, like refrigerating oils that contain garlic.

• Infant Botulism

The most common type of botulism is infant botulism, which makes up approximately 75 percent of all cases each year. This eMedTV segment explains infant botulism in detail, including causes, symptoms, treatments, and prognosis.

• Causes of Botulism

The Clostridium botulinum bacterium produces nerve toxins that are the causes of botulism. As this section of the eMedTV library explains, this bacterium can produce seven forms of this toxin, only four of which are causes of botulism in humans.

• Botulism Transmission

Botulism transmission does not occur from one person to another. It occurs when the toxin-producing spores are ingested. This page on the eMedTV website describes how botulism transmission occurs in infants, wounds, and food.

• Symptoms of Botulism

Symptoms of botulism include vision problems, slurred speech, and muscle weakness. This eMedTV page explains the various symptoms of botulism and how they can progress to paralysis of the legs, arms, trunks, and respiratory system if left untreated.

• Botulism Diagnosis

Making a botulism diagnosis can be difficult because the lab test used to definitively make a diagnosis can take up to 4 days. This eMedTV Web page explains how a doctor goes about making a botulism diagnosis, including the possible tests required.

• Botulism Treatment

Key aspects of botulism treatment include careful observation and supportive care in a hospital. As this eMedTV article explains, an injection of botulism antitoxin -- if the disease is caught early enough -- may also be used for botulism treatment.

• Prevent Botulism

To prevent botulism in foods, it's important to follow strict hygienic procedures when canning food at home. This eMedTV resource outlines additional recommendations for botulism prevention in foods, infants, and wounds.

• Botulism in Honey

Because there is a potential of infant botulism in honey, children under 12 months old should not be fed this product. This page of the eMedTV library addresses the risk botulism in honey presents to infants.